Shock-absorber



C.- B. KURTZ.

SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLlcAnoN FILED MAY 1'7. 191e.

Fammi4 Mar. s, 1921,

CYRUS B. KURTZ, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

SHOCK-ABSORBER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application led May 17, 1916. Serial No. 97,999.

To all w 710m. it may concern Be it knownthatl, CYRUs B. KURTZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lakewood, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shock-Absorbers, of which the followingis a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to a shock absorber and particularly to one in which the absorbing action is secured by means of a piston which is movable in a cylinder and provided with means which produce an increase in the frictional resistance against movement between the piston and the cyl` inder proportionally to the relative movement of these two parts. The piston and cylinder are of course connected to the two relatively movable parts of the apparatus to which the device is applied, and thus relativc movement. of the piston and cylinder is secured.

It has been found that with this device it is possible to secure a very gradual increase in the resistance offered to movement by the device and also that it is possible to conveniently adjust this resistance to variousl conditions. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device partially in section; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2. Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3', Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a cylinder 1 open at one end and receiving therein an expanding'piston consisting preferably of two semicircular collars 2 which together form a hollow piston provided with conical or tapered surfaces 3 at either end. It will be understood that this piston may if desired consist of a single split ring or collar, the number of parts in which-it is made being a matter of small importance.

Mounted in contact with the two tapered surfaces 3 on the inner side of the piston are two tapered members et and 5, the part 5 being attached to or formed as a part of a sleeve or tube (3, while the member l is either attached to or formed as a. part of :1 rod 7 which is movable longitudinally within the sleeve 6. The sleeve 6 extends through the open end of the cylinder 1 and terminates in a lateral extension or shoulder 8. rlhe rod 7 extends through the sleeve (5 and is encircled adjacent to its end by a spring 9 operating against a ball 10 of a ball and socket joint, the ball 10 being attached to this rod 7 and the socket '1.1 be-r ing provided with an extending arm 12 which may be attached to one of the two parts which have relative movement, the shocks of which are to be absorbed. The ball 10 is cut out to receive the spring 9 and is adjustably engaged on the rod 7.

Beneath the spring 9 is disposed a slidable collar 14 adjacent to the shoulder 8 of the sleeve G and between these two shoulders or collars there is disposeda cam member 13 which is formed as a part of an arm 15 pivotally attached at its outer end to a link 16 which is in turn attached pivotally to cap 18 covering the open end of the cylinder 1. ed a second ball and socket joint, the socket 19 being provided with an extending arm 2O which may be attached to the other of the two members having relative movement. T he second ball and socket joint consists of a ball portion 21 formed as the upper part of a collar 22 clamped to the cylinder and is faced off flat on two sides. rhe socket portion 19 of the joint consists of an open collar which may be slipped over the ball by being placed at right angles to the present position (Fig. 1) and may then be turned into its permanent position and tightened into engagement with the ball by means of a bolt 23.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Upon relative movement between the two members to which the piston and rod 7 are attached, the piston as a whole is moved longitudinally downward in the cylinder. This movement of the lpiston and of the rod 7 moves the cam arm 15 downward about its point of attachment to the link 16. Such movement of the arm swings the cam 13 and thus spaces the two collars 5 and 4 operating respectively on the sleeve 6 and the rod 7,

On the cylinder 1 there is mount-` and moving them toward each other. When the sleeve and rod are moved toward each other the two tapered members fi and 5 are ymoved toward each other and into the split sleeve or bushing 3 which serves as a piston, and in this way the piston is expanded an amount which is proportional to the relative movement between the two members to which the piston and cylinder are attached. Expansion of the piston increases the frictional resistance between the piston and cylinder, and the amount of this resistance can be varied by adjustment of the pressure on the spring 9, since this spring 9 absorbs the rst movement of the cam before it begins to operate 'the sleeve 6 and rod 7 in opposite directions. It will be apparent that by varying the contour of the cam 13, the increase in the resistance to movement on the part of the piston can be changed within wide limits, not only as regards the graduation of the increase but also the amount.

The present device is capable of a very sensitive adjustment and can be made very inexpensively since most of the parts are merely stampings or forgings which do not require any machine work. The amount of resistance oifered to the relative movement of the piston and cylinder can be exactly proportioned to the amount of movement between the two members to which these parts are attached. y

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims orv the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention z- 1. In a shock absorber, the combination of a cylinder yand an expanding piston movable therein and having an externally extending piston rod, and means mounted eX- ternally of said cylinder and operative upon relative movement of said piston and cylinder to expand said piston and increase the resistance to movement of the same in said cylinder when moved in either direction.

v 2. In a shock absorber, the combination of a cylinder, a hollow piston movable therein and provided with a tapered inner surface, an expanding member bearing against such tapered surface, and means meunted externally of said cylinder and piston, said means being operative upon relative movement of said piston and cylinder in either direction to expand said piston and increase the resistance to movement of the same in said cylinder.

3. In a shock absorber, the combination of a cylinder, a hollow piston movable therein and provided with tapered inner surfaces at either end, a taper ended sleeve engaging against one of such piston ends and a taper ended rod mounted within said sleeve and engaging against the other' end of said piston, and means, operated by relative movement of said piston and `cylinder and adaptcd to thereupon actuate said rod and sleeve in opposite directions, thereby expanding said piston and increasing the frictional resistance of the same against movement in said cylinder.

d. In a shocl-r absorber, the combination of a cylinder, a hollow piston movable therein and provided with tapered inner surfaces at either end, a taper ended sleeve engaging against one of such piston ends and 'a taper ended rod mounted within said sleeve and engaging against the other end of said piston, said rod and sleeve having adjacent projections thereon, a cam engaged between said projections and adapted to cause opposite movement of said sleeve and rod upon operation and means operated by relative movement of said piston and cylinder and adaptedvto operate said cam, thereby eX- panding said piston and increasing the frictional resistance of the same against movement in said cylinder.

5. In a shock absorber, the combination of a cylinder, a hollow piston movable therein and provided with tapered inner surfaces at either end, a taper ended sleeve engaging against one of such piston ends and a taper endedrod mounted within said sleeve and engaging against the other end of said piston, pivoted arms connected to said cylinder and piston, a cam disposed to oppositely move said rod and sleeve upon operation, one of said arms being connected to said cam and being adapted to operate the same upon movement of said piston and cylinder.

Signed by me, this 13th day of May 1916 CYRUS B. KURTZ. 

